Twenty-five OBU students earn honors for NATS auditions

Fourteen Ouachita Baptist University students were named finalists in the Arkansas National Association of Teachers Singing (NATS) auditions. Among the 14, two were named finalists in two categories each and five others were also named semi-finalists in various categories.

Additionally, 11 other Ouachita students were named semi-finalists in the NATS auditions, including three who were named semi-finalists in two categories each.

NATS held its annual conference and auditions at Arkansas Tech University on Feb. 27 and 28. Students and faculty involved in the conference participated in preliminary round auditions, a recital by world-renowned countertenor Gerald Thompson and a master class featuring OBU sophomore musical theatre major C.E. Fifer.

The following students were NATS finalists, in order of hometown:

Arkadelphia, Ark.—Caitlin Secrest, an Arkadelphia high school student of Glenda and Jon Secrest, earned second place in the high school musical theatre division and was a semi-finalist in the high school girls division. Sean Wilson, a junior vocal performance student of Jon Secrest, earned third place in the junior men division.

Arlington, Texas—Xavier Lagunas, a freshman musical theatre student of Glenda Secrest, earned first place in the freshmen men division and was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division.

Azle, Texas—Krysteena Koiner, a senior musical theatre student of Mary Worthen, earned third place in the upper musical theatre division.

Cleburne, Texas—Chelsea Cunningham, a sophomore music student of Jon Secrest, earned third place in the sophomore women division.

Dalworthington Gardens, Texas—Andrew Miller, a junior vocal performance student of Jon Secrest, earned first place in the junior men division.

Forney, Texas—Hannah Chapman, a junior vocal performance student of Glenda Secrest, earned second place in the junior women division. Samantha Parrish, a junior musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, earned third place in the junior women division and was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Jonesboro, Ark.—Anna Ganong, a freshman choral music education student of Margaret Garrett, earned third place in the freshman women division and was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division. Haley Broadaway, a senior musical theatre student of Margaret Garrett, earned second place in the upper musical theatre division.

Malvern, Ark.—Robert Hill, a freshman music student of Jon Secrest, earned third place in the freshmen men division and in the lower musical theatre division.

Memphis, Tenn.—Elisabeth Hipp, a sophomore choral music education student of Glenda Secrest, earned second place in the sophomore women division.

Saginaw, Texas—Doug Brady, a sophomore musical theatre student of Glenda Secrest, earned first place in the lower student adult division and was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Wynne, Ark.—Jacob Watson, a sophomore musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, earned first place in the sophomore men division and in the lower musical theatre division.

The following students also qualified as NATS semi-finalists, in order of hometown:

Arlington, Texas—Jody Lee, a junior musical theatre student of Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the junior men division.

Dallas, Texas—Matt Landers, a senior music theory and composition student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the senior men division.

Fouke, Ark.—Julie Robinson, a senior vocal performance student of Mary Worthen, was a semi-finalist in the senior women division.

Grapevine, Texas—Kyle Huey, a senior musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the senior men division.

Little Rock, Ark.—Chris Straw, a senior musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the senior men division and in the upper musical theatre division.

Olney, Ill.—C.E. Fifer, a junior musical theatre student of Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division.

North Little Rock, Ark.—Daniel Collier, a senior musical theatre student of Mary Worthen, was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Russellville, Ark.—Maggie Taylor, a sophomore choral music education student of Mary Worthen, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women division.

Springdale, Ark.—Rachel Harris, a freshman musical theatre student of Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the freshmen women division and in the lower musical theatre division.

Tyler, Texas—Grace Johnson, a freshman vocal performance student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division and in the lower musical theatre division.

Waxahachie, Texas—Danielle DeNicola, a sophomore vocal performance student of Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women division.